Maybe Matilda: Sausage and Veggie Calzones

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Sausage and Veggie Calzones

You’re familiar, I’m sure, with that strange phenomenon of loving something fiercely in your youth, then as you get older and wiser you can’t quite figure out if that thing you so dearly love is actually truly lovable, or if you only love it because it was a part of your childhood? Take N*Sync, for instance. I still enjoy their songs on the rare occasion when I hear one. But I don’t have even the slightest idea if it’s actually good music (yes? no?), or if I just like it now because I was such a fan when I was a kid (Lance! Beautiful beautiful Lance!!!!). Know what I mean?

These calzones, however, do not fall under the realm of the nostalgia phenomenon. I loved them when I was a kid, yes. But I love them as an adult not just because I ate them as a kid, but because they actually, honestly, really and truly are delicious.

My mom made this recipe fairly often when I was growing up, and they were always a family favorite. They were a frequent request for kids’ birthday dinners, and were one of the first dinners I made for Jeff when we were dating. And I’m a big enough person to admit that perhaps these delicious calzones were a big part of why he ended up marrying me instead of running for the hills after a few short weeks with me and my particular brand of crazy, like every other boyfriend before him. If I’d made them calzones, who knows where I’d be right now?

My only complaint about them, which isn’t even really a complaint at all when I think about it, is that they have ruined me for boring calzones. I didn’t even know until I was in college that there was such a thing as calzones that had only cheese inside. This recipe, packed with sausage and vegetables and spices and two cheeses, has made almost every other calzone I’ve ever eaten seem downright boring to me. We all have our crosses to bear. And to this day, this is literally the only dish I’ve ever liked mushrooms in. Those foul little fungi are only acceptable in calzone form.

Sausage and Veggie Calzones

Sausage and Veggie Calzones

Makes about 10 calzones for me, but of course it depends on how big/small you make them. I make mine fairly large.

1/2 pound mild Italian sausage
1 medium onion, diced
1 clove garlic, diced
1 cup sliced mushrooms
2 carrots, grated
8 oz. can tomato sauce
1 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups grated Mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 loaf frozen bread dough, thawed (or, even better if you have time for it and enjoy making bread dough, replace this with one batch of your favorite homemade pizza dough—I like this one)

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Cook the sausage, onion, garlic, mushrooms, and grated carrots in a large pan (sprayed with nonstick spray) until meat is browned and vegetables are tender. Add tomato sauce, basil, oregano, sugar, and salt; simmer 5 minutes. Add cheeses and stir until they begin to melt; remove from heat.

Divide the dough, and roll out into roughly 6-inch diameter circles. Place a generous scoop of the sausage/veggie filling off-center in each circle, fold dough over the filling, and pinch the edges together to seal. Bake on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper (or sprinkled with cornmeal) for 12-18 minutes or until the tops of the calzones are golden brown.

If you’d like, serve with heated marinara sauce for dipping. (I never do.)

12 comments :

  1. Yum! These look delicious! And I'm right there with ya on N*Sync. Are they good? I'm not really sure, but at the risk of getting all controversial in your comment section, they are way better than Backstreet Boys.

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    1. Bring the controversy. N*Sync forever!!! Backstreet suuuuuucks!

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    2. Hahaha. Now THIS gave me a much needed laugh for the day. And I couldn't agree more--N*Sync! N*Sync! N*Sync! I admittedly always had a thing for Lance... totally missing the signs that he wasn't into girls. (I mean, he dated Topanga, right?!?) Anyways, my husband will never let me live that one down. But, I digress. N*Sync! N*Sync! N*Sync!

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    3. Haha! I was totally shocked by that news, too. Not to mention heartbroken, since we were going to get married and all.

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  2. I just wanted to let you know I just discovered your blog and I already love it! You are so awesome! :-)

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  3. These sound delicious! Definitely going to have to try them!

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  4. These look yummy!

    Oh and I'm with you on the whole N*Sync thing (I was also a Lance fan) but I have to say that I loved Backstreet too - I know scandalous.

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    1. So, we made these tonight and I had to tell you how AMAZING they were! I actually ended up making one huge calzone because I was too lazy to make a bunch of smaller ones, but it worked out perfectly because we now have half of it waiting to be eaten again tomorrow. My hubby is from New Jersey and a huge fan/critic of all things Italian, and he could not stop raving about how flavorful the filling was. He wants it on pasta, in casseroles--every way it can be eaten. I definitely see how this dish wins the hearts of men. ;)

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    2. Yay! I'm so glad you loved them! They've always been one of my very favorite dinners. Mmmmm :-)

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  5. Hi. I made these today and my whole family loved them. My daughter actually ate the mushrooms, so I think this may be the only acceptable way for her to eat mushrooms too! I'll definitely be making them again. Thank you for the recipe :o)

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    1. So glad you liked them, Sarah! Thanks for letting me know :-)

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Thanks for commenting!

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